How to Prepare for a Fire in Your Home or Business – Free Checklist
A fire is one of the most devastating incidents that can impact your home or business. Within a matter of minutes, a fire can spiral out of control and engulf the property in flames, resulting in massive damage and threatening the lives of anyone inside. Consider the following facts:
- A small flame can become a major fire within 30 seconds.
- Your property can be filled with thick, black smoke or be completely engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes.
- During a fire, temperatures at room level can reach 100 degrees, and they can be as high as 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling air at these extreme temperatures can melt your clothes onto your skin and scorch your lungs.
- The black smoke produced by fires can completely engulf your property in darkness, making it difficult to see if you’re trying to escape or avoid falling objects and other hazardous conditions.
- Fires emit toxic gases that can make you disoriented and drowsy. This results in more fatalities than the actual flames associated with a fire.
Between the massive property damage and the serious health and safety issues created by fires, it’s critical to be prepared in the event that one occurs. The following checklist will help you make sure your home or business is ready.
Install Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms play a critical role in the event of a fire, and they significantly improve your chances of survival if you experience a massive fire. Make sure you adhere to the following smoke alarm best practices:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside all bedrooms, outside sleeping areas, and in the basement
- Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they’re working properly
- Unless your smoke alarms run on 10-year lithium batteries, you should replace the batteries twice a year
- Replace all smoke alarms at least every 10 years, or sooner if the manufacturer’s instructions recommend more frequent replacement
- Never disable smoke alarms while cooking, even if you’re producing non-fire-related smoke that is causing them to go off, as this can place your family in danger if a fire breaks out
- Teach your children what smoke alarms sound like and what actions they should take if they hear the smoke alarm go off
Teach Your Children About Fire Safety
If you have young children, it’s important to educate them about fire safety. It’s common for a fire to frighten and overwhelm children, increasing the risk of injury or death. The more they know about what to do in the event of a fire, the more likely they are to survive the incident without injury.
When teaching your children about fire safety:
- Make sure they know what to do if they hear a smoke alarm when no adults are around
- Make sure they know to always drop to the ground and crawl to avoid the smokier air at eye level
- Show them how to use the back of their hand to check doors for heat prior to opening them, and make sure they know they should look for a different way to exit the house if the door is hot
- Create a plan that identifies who will help young children under age six exit the house since they may not be able to get outside safely by themselves
- Make sure they know never to return into the house once they’ve exited and are safe
- If an escape ladder is required to exit the house, make sure they know where it is stored and how to use it
Create and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
Fires can spiral out of control within a matter of seconds or minutes, so time is of the essence. Every second you delay getting out of the house can place your life in greater danger. Creating an escape plan will ensure you and your family are able to get out of the house as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.
When creating your fire escape plan:
- Identify two ways to get out of every room in case one exit is inaccessible or too dangerous to use
- Make sure your windows open properly, screens can be removed quickly and security bars can be opened easily
- If a family member uses a wheelchair or walker, make sure all exits can accommodate these devices
- Designate a safe meeting place outside and make sure everyone knows where this spot is located
- Teach your children not to hide from firefighters
It’s also equally important to practice your fire escape plan regularly to make sure everyone can execute it properly in the event of a fire. If it’s been years since you’ve discussed your fire escape plan with your family, it’s likely that people will forget what to do. We recommend conducting a home “fire drill” at least twice a year to practice your escape plan. During these fire drills:
- Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed to simulate conditions caused by thick, black smoke
- Practice “stop, drop and roll” so everyone knows what to do if their clothes catch on fire
- Time the drill to make sure everyone can get out of the house in under two minutes
Establish an Emergency Communications Plan
Fires can be chaotic events, and it’s important that everyone in your family knows who to contact. Establishing an emergency communications plan can be a critical step to ensure your family is safe during a fire:
- Make sure all family members know who to contact if they can’t find each other outside after a fire
- Make sure everyone knows all relevant emergency assistance numbers to call, including 9-1-1 and your local fire department
- After the fire, contact your local disaster relief service, such as The Red Cross, if you’re in need of assistance with food, medications or temporary housing
- Have the contact information for a local fire damage restoration company you can call once you’re out of the building and the fire has been contained
Additional Fire Safety Tips to Know
Make sure everyone in your family knows the following fire safety tips:
- Keep flammable items at least three feet away from any objects that get hot, such as space heaters or stoves
- If you’re a smoker, you should always smoke outside and dispose of smoking materials safely
- Turn off all portable heaters whenever you leave a room or go to sleep
- Never leave burning candles unattended, and extinguish them before going to sleep
- Check all electrical wiring in your home regularly and repair any issues immediately to reduce the risk of an electrical fire
- Store combustible materials safely
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking and make sure everyone knows how to handle a grease fire
- Keep fire extinguishers accessible, especially in the kitchen, and learn how to use them properly
- Inspect and clean fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys annually and check them monthly for obstructions or damage
RestorePro Can Help After a Fire
Preparing for a fire and knowing what to do in the event one occurs can save your life, but it often can’t save your property from significant damage. If you experience a fire in your home or business, working with a professional fire damage restoration company will ensure all repairs are performed correctly and your property is safe to inhabit once again. At RestorePro Reconstruction, we have you covered.
RestorePro is the leading fire damage restoration company in the Southeast. We have nine offices located throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Our team offers 24/7 emergency response fire damage restoration services and will arrive at your home or business shortly after receiving your call to begin work. This prompt response is critical, as it will ensure your home or business is properly secured from additional damage due to weather, vandalism or animals.
Our team is fully licensed and certified, and we possess over 30 years of experience performing fire damage restoration services for residential and commercial properties. As a full-service fire damage restoration company, our team can manage every aspect of the process from initial assessment to all repairs and reconstruction. This ensures a smoother process and gives you peace of mind that everything is performed correctly.
We understand that a fire can be a stressful and overwhelming situation. The devastation can be catastrophic, causing great hardships for your family or your business. Our team will be by your side every step of the way to help you through this process and ensure your property is restored to its original condition as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment. RestorePro provides residential and commercial fire damage restoration services throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
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